Jim Cohen
Staff Writer
The national holiday to thank and remember our nation’s veterans from former and current wars for their service to our country comes to Main Street, USA on Saturday. Veterans Day acknowledges the courage, honor and bravery of those who have put their lives on the line for our nation in the name of freedom and security.
Some wars fought have been wars of choice rather than wars of necessity. Some wars fought have not been very popular with the public.
Regardless of the circumstance, Americans understand the necessity to acknowledge our veterans’ sacrifice and the importance to listen to their stories so we never forget what they have accomplished for our country.
One story many Americans are unfamiliar with is a federal law that dates back to 1891 that bars “concurrent receipt” of both military retirement and disability benefits. Also known as “The Disabled Veterans’ Tax,” veterans with 20 years or more of military service who receive disability benefits from the Veterans Affairs due to combat injury are restricted from being paid their full military retirement benefits from the Department of Defense. Every dollar a disabled veteran earns in disability pay is deduct from his/or her military retirement pay in the form of a dollar-for-dollar tax. The effect of this tax hurts a half-million American veterans.
Legislation to repeal this tax has been introduced every year in Congress since 1987 but has failed to muster enough votes to end a tax that dishonors our veterans’ sacrifice and service for our country. In 2003, Congress agreed to end the tax for veterans who are considered 50 percent or more disabled. Unfortunately, the partial repeal of the tax will be phased back in by 2013. It seems this vote was for temporary political purposes rather than truly fighting for the justice our veterans deserve.
Another story many Americans may be unfamiliar with is how little soldiers are paid for their hard-earned work. According to United States Military Pay Schedules, the lowest-ranking soldier with one year of active military service is struggling to stay above the poverty line. Soldiers in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan are paid an additional “Hostile Fire” benefit of $225 per month. Meanwhile, our government pays private security contractors from $350 up to $1,500 per day to protect major corporations’ workers who are involved with rebuilding efforts. So, while “G.I. Joe” or “G.I. Jane” try to avoid being blown-up by an improvised explosive device (roadside bomb), a private contractor can earn up to $250,000 a year providing security or delivering supplies to our troops on the ground.
An even more interesting story tells us that barely a handful of members of Congress have children or immediate family members currently serving in combat. Yet, Congress believes it is OK to send their children into combat paying them impoverished wages and slapping them with a disability tax that spits in the face of their service and sacrifice. Such deplorable action seems antithetical to the celebration and gratitude we are supposed to give our veterans on Veterans Day.
In an era of an all-volunteer military, the U.S. depends on the selfless act of bravery by our nation’s finest men and women to offer their lives for the security and freedom of our nation. A large number of these volunteers are lower middle class and poor Americans who rely on the advantage of using their military service to pay for a future college education and an opportunity to better their financial situation.
On this Veterans Day, we should take a moment to say “thank you” to all those who have worn our nation’s uniform and remember those who have risked their lives in combat including soldiers who were never able to make it back home. It should remind us our veterans continue to face attacks at home with abhorrent pay wages and taxes that defame their hard-earned benefits.
And through all of this we should remember our veterans had the guts to do what many of us will never have the courage to do.
Thank You.
11-09-2006